Firsts 1

A/N: This was originally written for a small, casual challenge on Livejournal's PuffySubmariner community and I've expanded it a bit. The prompt was for Harry and Ginny to make a pact that if they had not done "something" in a period of time, they would do it together. Harry and Ginny never dated at Hogwarts.

August 27, 1994

"So."

"So."

"Umm, are you sure you want to do this?"

"I'm sure. Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I mean, why not, right? I've got to do it some time."

"Right. And you don't want your first time for real, I mean, with a girl you actually like, to be all weird because you have no idea what you're doing."

"Hey, I like you, Ginny."

"You know what I mean, Harry. And I'm tired of being the only girl in my year practically, who's never kissed a boy."

"Heh. Except for Enid Blanks. You know, that Slytherin with the mustache."

"Yeah, well, I'm not even sure she is a girl . . . so, are we going to do this?"

"Yeah. Uhh, what should I do?"

"Just close your eyes. And your mouth."

"Yes ma'am. Closing."

"Okay, here goes."

Silence

"Huh."

"Well. That was . . . fine, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. It was good. I mean, I think it was good. Do you?"

"Yeah . . . Good."

Silence

"Uhh, d'you want to go find Ron and Hermione and play two-a-side?"

"Definitely. And, umm, Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"Of course. I mean, what are friends for?"

December 2, 1994

"My sister? You asked my sister? I thought you fancied Cho." Ron was staring incredulously at Harry, almost as though he didn't recognize him.

Harry shifted uncomfortably on the sofa in the Common Room and wished Ron would keep his voice down. "Yeah, well, Diggory already asked her . . ."

"The git," Ron broke in. "Okay, fine. But why'd you go and ask Ginny instead? I mean she's . . . you know. It's Ginny." He suddenly sat up straight and grabbed Harry's arm. "Wait, you don't like her, do you? Ginny?"

Harry shook him off. "No, Ron," he said, extremely grateful that he and Ginny had been able to keep their summer kiss a secret. True, it had just been to give them both the experience, but still, he suspected Ron wouldn't appreciate hearing that Harry and his little sister had been practicing anything (except maybe Quidditch moves) on each other.

"If you had to ask a girl, why didn't you ask Hermione?"

Harry mentally rolled his eyes at his best friend. "I just didn't, okay? Ginny and I are friends too, and anyway, she couldn't go if I didn't ask her – she's not a Fourth Year." He paused and pretended to think. "Hey, why don't you ask Hermione? I bet she'd say yes."

"Me?" Ron looked surprised. "Why would I do that?"

Harry sighed. "Well for one, she's probably the only girl in the entire school who'll know better than to laugh at your dress robes." He'd meant it as a jab at his friend's obliviousness, but Ron actually looked back at him seriously.

"You know, you're right. And she won't be all annoying and giggly like some of those other girls. Too bad she doesn't know more about Quidditch. Yeah, I'll take Hermione." He settled back into the sofa, looking satisfied.

"Uhh, Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"It may just be me, but I think it helps if you actually ask the girl first, you know?"

Ron punched Harry in the arm. "Yeah, thanks."

August 11, 1995

"Sorry I didn't get you anything for your birthday." Harry stood awkwardly at the door of the room in Grimmauld Place Ginny was currently sharing with Hermione.

Ginny snorted. "Harry, between my mum and Moody, I'm surprised you can even go to the loo by yourself, let alone all the way to Diagon Alley to get me a present." She raised her eyebrows. "You'll just have to get me something doubly good for Christmas, okay?"

Harry laughed, relieved. "It's a deal." He started to leave the room.

"Oh, and Harry?"

"Hmmm?"

"Spit on Fudge for me tomorrow if you get the chance. Percy too, if you can swing it."

Harry grinned in at her, one of the first real smiles he'd given since he'd arrived at Grimmauld Place. Leave it to Ginny not to make a big deal about everything. "I'll do my best."

December 20, 1995

"Harry?" Ginny spoke quietly in the now jubilant kitchen so that no one else could hear.

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember on my birthday, I said you'd owe me a doubly good Christmas present since you couldn't get anything then?"

"Yeah, but Ginny, I'm not sure if I can . . ."

"You're off the hook. For about the next ten years."

December 21, 1995

"Ginny?" Harry once again stood at the doorway of Ginny's Grimmauld Place bedroom. She didn't look up from the book she was reading, but Harry wasn't fooled.

"Hmm?" she asked, running her finger down the page.

"I'm a prat, aren't I? For forgetting about the Chamber."

Ginny sighed and closed the book, finally looking up at Harry. "Well, yes, you are prat." She grinned suddenly. "But you're forgiven. You've had a lot on your mind."

Harry walked into the room and sat down next to Ginny on the bed. "Just promise me something. If I ever act like a prat again, or forget something important, you'll smack me. K?"

Ginny grinned a second time. "Mess up again, Potter, and I'll do a lot better than just smack you," she rolled her wand around in her hand and raised her eyebrows.

Harry jumped back in mock horror. "Hey now, you wouldn't want to do anything permanent to your first kiss, would you?" He nudged her. "Although, from the show I got in the Entrance Hall last week, it looks like Michael Corner has definitely taken my place."

Ginny gave him an innocent stare. "I have no idea what you are talking about. And anyway, from what I've heard, you've been getting a bit more practice in that area yourself."

Harry turned red. "How about we agree not to mention it ever again?"

Ginny stuck out her hand for him to shake. "Deal."

July 16, 1996

"Ahhh, thish wuzza lotta fun, Harry. . . . Harry?"

". . . Ginny, di'jah ever notice how sparkly the stars were? They're like little bitty wands, up in th' sky. Up there. Up."

"I can't seeeee them! Where?"

"You hafta turn over on your back, Ginny. An' look at the sky."

"Ohhh. Pretty."

"Hey, is there anymore of that Firewhisky left?"

"Nope. Nope nope nope. We drank the whooooooole bottle. Yummy."

"I hope your mum doesn't find out. She's scary when she yells."

"She'll blame Gred and Forge . . . I mean, Fred and Gorge, I mean, Fed and . . . the twins. She'll think it was th' twins."

Silence

"Thanksh for getting the bottle, Ginny. It's time we learned how to hold our liquor, don'cha think?"

"Ri' now you're holding my hand, Harry."

"Ooops. Wouldn't wanna upset Dean. He's my roommate, Dean is. He'sa nice bloke."

Silence

"Is he nice t' you?"

"Who?"

"Dean. Is Dean nice t' you, Ginny?"

"Oh. Yeah. He's nice. He's very, very nice. An a good kisser too."

"Better'n me?"

"Harry!"

"Sorry. Ferget I asked."

Silence

"Harry?"

"Hmmm?"

"No."

May 6, 1997

The roar that hit Harry like a brick wall as he pushed open the portrait hole told him the answer even before he could focus on the grinning faces or catch sight of the enormous Quidditch Cup Ron held. The noise carried him over the threshold and into the room where he was alternately slapped on the back, high-fived, and, when he finally got over to Ginny, enveloped in an enormous hug.

He pulled back to grin at her after a minute. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement and she was almost jumping up and down in his arms. "We won Harry! We won!"